From the 60s to the 80s, every American grandma had these wingback couches with brown-hued floral, plaid, or farm-print fabric. Pam Kueber, a retro style and “Mid-Century Modest” decor connoisseur, suggests that it’s because they’re a marriage of old and new. American grandparents bought couches with “Space Age” materials that lasted forever because furniture purchases were quite rare. Many picked fabrics that reminded them of their farmer roots and the Westerns they loved watching on TV, which explains why some have these strange Old West patterns. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
